‘We want to hit ground running’

Ken Borland

Bolstered by a couple of additions in Proteas batsman Theunis de Bruyn and promising quick bowler Tsepo Moreki, Titans coach Mark Boucher believes he has the squad to once again get the job done and win the Four-Day Franchise Series, but their focus is very much on the first hour of the first day of their opening match against the Dolphins starting at Centurion today.

Despite the Proteas grabbing another Titans player in Dean Elgar yesterday, the defending champions will still be able to field a team featuring five internationals – De Bruyn, Henry Davids, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris and Junior Dala.

“There’s been no real need to change our squad, we have good balance between youth and experience. We know everyone is looking at us, we have a target on our backs because we have been so successful, but we’ve learnt how to deal with that. We don’t shy away from being favourites, but we try and stay one step ahead of the opposition.

“We’re looking for a good start against the Dolphins, which will give us some momentum for the season. Talk of the treble is a long way ahead and we just want to focus on the first hour of the first day. There’s a lot of cricket to come and a lot to still fall into place. But we have enough talent and a few seniors as well,” Boucher said at SuperSport Park.

Flat pitches at the start of the season and Cricket South Africa’s decision to award six points to both sides in a drawn match, a controversial playing condition that has been retained for this season, led to the majority of matches being drawn in 2017/18, with the two top sides, the Titans and Warriors, each winning just two of their 10 games outright. There were more wins in the second half of the season and Boucher said he hopes that will lead to the creating of more sporty pitches.

“CSA felt it was a tight competition last season so we decided to give the six points or a draw another go. A lot of sides would have taken heart from the second half of the tournament when there were a lot more results and teams played a lot more aggressively. You might lose here and there, but the most positive team will probably win the trophy.

“Hopefully the pitches will be a bit greener, more result-friendly wickets and therefore more exciting cricket,” Boucher said.